Apple tree

ABSTRACT

A variety of apple of the Delicious strain which has dwarf characteristics, with wide angle branching, blooming as much as two weeks later than the &#34;Starking&#34; (unpatented variety), producing small, sweet, red apples similar to &#34;Starking&#34;, and providing a root stock which supports ready grafting of pears for growing same to eliminate pear decline and other disorders of pear rootstocks to which this rootstock is not susceptible.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of appletree, discovered by us in the cultivated orchard of Stephen M. Coke, oneof the discoverers herein, as a bud mutation on a "Starking"(unpatented) tree stump which had been pushed out.

During the period of initial observation it was noted that the budmutation grew very slowly and budded only after other apple trees in theorchard were through with their bloom period, approximately two weekslater in fact.

Ultimately some late blooms appeared on a nearby Rose Red and our newvariety which we denominate 2366C67 and which will be known commerciallyas "Super Clone", to thereby pollinate the blooms of our new varietyproducing small apples resembling crab apples in size and "Starking"Delicious in flavor. The apples had the usual light pinkish red blushand yellowish green backside with reddish stripes that characterized the"Starking".

We have asexually reproduced our new variety by grafting and the progenyresulting therefrom together with continued observation and tests of theoriginal bud mutation, over a period of time, have conclusivelydemonstrated that it is definitely a new and distinct variety which hasa number of distinct characteristics which distinguish it from the"Starking" variety as well as from other varieties of which we areaware:

1. Grows like a miniature apple tree with wide angles of branching thefirst year in contrast to only leaf growth which is usual in appletrees.

2. The dwarfing characteristics are decidedly pronounced as evidenced bythe fact that seedlings after being cut back leaving five inches of stemand grafted to several pear varieties retained the dwarfingcharacteristics.

3. We have found that the late blooming apple and pear grafts withinterstems of our new variety will delay the bloom of apples sixteen(16) days and of pears, fifteen (15) days.

4. Even though the bloom is delayed the fruit matures at just about thenormal time.

5. Use of our new variety as a clonal rootstock will dwarf in size bothapple and pear cultivars.

6. The use of our new variety as a rootstock for pears has been found toeliminate pear decline and other disorders associated with pearrootstock since apple roots are immune to these disorders.

7. The delayed blooming of our new apple variety will save substantiallyby delaying the time when orchard heating might be necessary, since theblooming two weeks later than usual and other known varieties takesplace.

8. The dwarf characteristics and small, sweet apples produced provide anovelty item for home gardeners and make possible growing severalvarieties of apples and pears on the same tree.

The accompanying drawing shows a typical tree of our new variety,typical specimens of the fruit, and one specimen shown in cross-section,all as depicted in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible tomake the same in a color illustration of this character.

There follows a detailed description of our new variety, with colorterminology in accordance with the Nickerson Color Fan, published byMunsell Color Company and being indicated, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are applicable:

Locality where grown and observed: At Yakima, Wash. and in the orchardof one of the discoverers hereof and in Princess Anne, Md. at BountifulRidge Nurseries.

Date of first and last picking: All picked by October 15.

Tree: Small (dwarf). Medium vigorous; upright; low; dense; round; slowgrowing; hardy; productive; regular bearer.

Truck.--Medium; smooth.

Branches.--Medium; smooth; much branching; color -- Brown to green (2.5Y4/4 moderate olive brown). Lenticels -- Few; small.

Leaves.--Length -- 3 2/10". Width -- 1 5/10". Small; narrow; long; oval;taper-pointed; medium thickness; color -- Medium green (7.5GY 4/4moderate olive green) smooth. Margin -- Crenate; finely serrate. Petiole-- Length 1 4/10"; medium; slender.

Flowers.--Self-unfruitful but profusely blooming. Dates of first andfull bloom -- May 8 and May 13. Late compared with other varieties, 16days later than Rose Red Delicious. (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,485) Mediumsize; white.

Fruit:

Maturity when described eating hard.--October 15.

Size.--Axial diameter 2 1/10"; transverse 1 9/10".

Form.--Uniform; symmetrical; regular; oblate.

Cavity.--Symmetrical; acute. Depth 4/10"; breadth 3/10".

Basin.--Rounded; base wide; pubescent.

Stem.--Clubbed; stout. Length 5/10". Bracts present (2).

Calyx.--Closed; segments persistent. Broadly; acuminate; length 5/10";erect; pubescent; (both outer and inner surface).

Eye.--Small; partially closed.

Skin.--Thin; tough; smooth; glossy; waxed; wanting; small; even;circular; color of dots white; distribution of dots scattered; groundcolor 10Y8/11 strong greenish yellow. Color markings -- Striped; bright.Bloom -- Wanting. General color effect -- Deep pink 2.5R6/11.

Flesh: Juicy; color of flesh white with yellowish tint.

Texture.--Firm; fine; crisp.

Flavor.--Mild; sweet; delicate; aroma is distant. Quality -- good.Resembles Starking Delicious.

Core:

Sessile.--Bundle area (longitudinal section) medium; ovate; symmetrical;halves of area -- equal. Bundles -- green; inconspicuous; one whorl.Alternate bundle -- reaches tube at below stamen. Core lines clasping --meeting; in cross-section distinct; carpellary area distinct; small.

Calyx.--Pubescent; apex narrowly, cone-shaped. Stem of funnel short.Depth of tube to shoulder 4/10". Entire depth 5/10". Styles -- Present;distinct; base; pubescent.

Stamens.--One; distinct; median.

Axillary cavity.--Wanting.

Seed cells axile.--Closed. Cell walls approximate; thin; tough; length4/10"; breadth 2/10". Longitudinal section -- narrowly ovate; oblong;acute. Surface entire -- smooth. Cross section -- broad.

Seeds: Number perfect 10; Imperfect 0. Largest number in one cell 2.Length 3.5/10th inch. Breadth 2/10".

Form.--Acuminate.

Color.--10YR4/4 Moderate yellowish brown.

Use: Dessert; fruit is of no commercial value.

Keeping quality: Medium.

Resistance to:

Insects.--Good.

Diseases.--Good.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree, substantially asherein shown and described, characterized particularly as to novelty bythe unique combination of a dwarf resemblance to "Starking" (unpatented)Delicious, the fruit being similarly dwarf on the order of a crab apple,though having coloring resembling "Starking", the wide angle branchinghabit the first year as opposed to the usual mostly leafy growth of mostapple varieties, late blooming, as much as sixteen days later than RoseRed, Jonathan and other similar varieties, and the very suitable use asa clonal rootstock for other apple varieties and also many pearvarieties which when grown on usual pear rootstock are susceptible topear decline and other pear disorders, to which the apple rootstock ofthis variety is not susceptible.